Wild Ones: Gentler Pocket Knife Has Animals, Not Blades

The Swiss Army knife is a beautiful example of simple but elegant design – but it isn’t exactly meant for play. This Animal Pocket Knife was a 3rd year design school project created by David Suhami as a lovely alternative to the classic knife.

Suhami’s goal was to invent a toy for adults who enjoy playing with small objects. The safari “knife” is completely harmless, yet still beautiful enough to be appealing to discerning adult minds. The object features interchangeable heads, legs and tails for three animals: a rhino, an antelope and a giraffe. The pieces fold out just like those of a Swiss Army knife, creating multiple animals which all share a torso.

According to Suhami it is also possible to mix and match the animal parts to create some fascinating new hybrid animals. The animal parts are made of stainless steel (to represent modern technology) and the knife’s body is made of Tabebuia wood (to represent traditional craftsmanship).